International rafting competition kicks off in Xingshan County
2023-06-11 18:06:00
By Tan Maolin, Yichang International Communication Studio
The 2023 China Yichang Chaotianhou Natural Waters International Rafting Competition began on Saturday in Xingshan County, with 26 professional teams from across 10 countries competing. About 2,400 rafting fans also participated in the amateur matches.
The competition is organized by the Chinese Extreme Sports Association, Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau and Yichang Municipal People's Government and is categorized into professional, college and amateur groups. Each team is comprised of two athletes.
The professional group competed in the 6km speed race, with teams from countries like China, Australia, Spain, Andorra and Italy. The college and amateur groups competed in the 6km leisure race, with more than 800 students from over 170 colleges and universities across China, and more than 1,600 rafting enthusiasts from 18 countries competing on the same course.
The matches began at 10 am on Saturday. Athletes drifted down the Chaotianhou River in colorful "dragon rafts” rushing between green water and hills.
Thomas Wicks and his teammate from Australia competed in the speed race of the professional group. He said he was very excited with the match and it was a real treat for the eyes to be able to race in such a beautiful river. Thomas said he had previously competed in the World Dragon Boat Championships in Guangzhou and this was his first time in Yichang. He is hoping to have more opportunities to participate in rafting events throughout China.
Chaotianhou Rafting Scenic spot is located in Xingshan County, about 100 kilometers from urban Yichang. With a length of 6 kilometers and an accumulative drop of 148 meters, it has held 10 international natural waters rafting competitions since 2012. It receives 450,000 visitors per year and has ranked first in the rafting industry in Hubei Province for several years.
Yichang enters rafting season in early summer. On June 1, Jiuwanxi Rafting Scenic Spot began its rafting season. Jiuwanxi is located about 100 kilometers away from Yichang’s city center. The rafting course is 13 kilometers long, with an accumulative drop of more than 100 meters.
The 2023 China Yichang Chaotianhou Natural Waters International Rafting Competition began on Saturday in Xingshan County, with 26 professional teams from across 10 countries competing. About 2,400 rafting fans also participated in the amateur matches.
The competition is organized by the Chinese Extreme Sports Association, Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau and Yichang Municipal People's Government and is categorized into professional, college and amateur groups. Each team is comprised of two athletes.
The professional group competed in the 6km speed race, with teams from countries like China, Australia, Spain, Andorra and Italy. The college and amateur groups competed in the 6km leisure race, with more than 800 students from over 170 colleges and universities across China, and more than 1,600 rafting enthusiasts from 18 countries competing on the same course.
The matches began at 10 am on Saturday. Athletes drifted down the Chaotianhou River in colorful "dragon rafts” rushing between green water and hills.
Thomas Wicks and his teammate from Australia competed in the speed race of the professional group. He said he was very excited with the match and it was a real treat for the eyes to be able to race in such a beautiful river. Thomas said he had previously competed in the World Dragon Boat Championships in Guangzhou and this was his first time in Yichang. He is hoping to have more opportunities to participate in rafting events throughout China.
Chaotianhou Rafting Scenic spot is located in Xingshan County, about 100 kilometers from urban Yichang. With a length of 6 kilometers and an accumulative drop of 148 meters, it has held 10 international natural waters rafting competitions since 2012. It receives 450,000 visitors per year and has ranked first in the rafting industry in Hubei Province for several years.
Yichang enters rafting season in early summer. On June 1, Jiuwanxi Rafting Scenic Spot began its rafting season. Jiuwanxi is located about 100 kilometers away from Yichang’s city center. The rafting course is 13 kilometers long, with an accumulative drop of more than 100 meters.
